Flashlight having a reversible contact plate for establishing either series or series-parallel connections



y 1952 J. L. CUNNINGHAM 97, 73

FLASHLIGHT HAVING A REVERSIBLE CONTACT PLATE FOR ESTABLISHING EITHERSERIES OR SERIES-PARALLEL CONNECTIONS Filed Sept. 12, 1947 2SHEETS-SHEET 1 a. 6/ 50 31 4413- 62' ,4 g 74 lNV ENTOR.

James 127 Cunnzrzgfzam,

ATTORNEY y 1952 J. L. CUNNINGHAM FLASHLIGHT HAVING A REVERSIBLE CONTACTPLATE FOR ESTABLISHING EITHER SERIES OR SERIES-PARALLEL CONNECTIONS 19472 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Sept. 12,

INVENTOR. JZzmesL Oannzngham,

'3 l in A ATTORNEY- Patented May 20, 1952 FLASHLIGHT HAVING A.REVERSIBLE .CON-

TACT PLATE FOR ESTABLISHINGEITHER SERIESv OR TIONS SERIES-PARALLELCONNEC- James L. Cunningham, Kansas 'City,.Mo.

Application September 12, 1947, Serial No. 773,663

4 Claims. 1

My. invention relates to a plural'voltage flashlight and animportantfeature of the invention resides in the provision of a singleflashlight which can be adjusted to difierent voltages and thus avoidthe necessity of providing a separate flashlight for each voltage.

Other features reside in novel means for connecting the dry cells of theflashlight in series for maximum voltage output and means for connectingthe dry cells in series-parallel for reduced voltage output.

Another object is to provide a compact flashlight in which theconventional dry cells are arranged so as to be axially coextensive,instead of being extended in axial alinement in the customary longhandle now in general use, which occupies too much room to be carried ina compact space, such for example, as one of the small storagecompartments of a boat or motor vehicle.

A further object is to provide a flashlight having a lens and reflectorof substantially greater circumference than like parts of theconventional flashlight to project a much larger volume of light withoutan expenditure of greater electric power.

Another object is to provide a flashlight in which the working parts maybe readily assembled, are of substantial construction and not likely toget out of order.

Other objects will hereinafter appear, and in order that the inventionmay be fully understood reference will now be had to the-accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the flashlight.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the flashlight turned approximatelyone-eighth of a revolution from the position disclosed by Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail of an annulus adapted to coaet with other parts incontrolling the electrical circuits of the flashlight.

Fig. 5 is a plan view disclosing one side of a contact plate withcontacts forming part of the series-parallel circuit and electricalconductors formingparts of the series circuit.

Fig. 6 shows the reverse side of the contact plate with contacts formingpart of the series circuit and electrical conductors forming parts ofthe series-parallel circuit.

Figs. 7 and 8 disclose side elevations of the contact plate when in thepositions shown by Figs. 5 and 6, with the addition of high and lowvoltage lamps, respectively.

Fig. 9 is a detail'showing'parts of a manually controlled switch foropening and closing the flashlight circuits.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of a circuit in which thedry cells arearranged in series for maximum output of voltage.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view of a circuit in which the dry cells areconnected in series-par allel for reduced output of voltage.

In carryingout the invention I provide a case 2, preferably of circularform, having a body portion'd, with a plurality of cavities 6 for thereception of a likenumber of dry cells 8, 8a, 8b and 8c. Preferably, thecavities 6 are equally spaced from each-other and the axis of the bodyportion 5., as shown by Fig. 3. Thedry cells maybe of any'preferred orconventional type. The-cavitiesli are normally closed at their front andrear ends by movable insulated plates Ill. and I2, respectively, theformer of which has independent sets of positive and negative contactswith conductors, on opposite sides of the plate.

The plate l2 has a plurality of springs M, Ma, Mb and H50, preferablyarranged in pairs disposed in crossed relation to each other, asdisclosed by Fig. 3, and secured to the inner side of the plate [2 bysuitable means suchas small bolts N3, the plate l2 in turn beingsecuredto the rear central part of the body4 by suitable means such as athreaded element I8. The

springs press against the-negative ends of the;

respective dry cells to yieldably hold their posi-& tive poles inengagement with a certain number of the contacts carried by the plate10, as will hereinafterappear. The plate I2 is arranged in juxtapositionwith the rearwall 20 of the case 2, which latter is provided at its rearside with suitable carrying means such as a pair of handles,

22, each of which may consist of a wire bent into semicircularv or othersuitable. form and pivotally connected at its oppositeends 24 to thewall 25 which has a forwardly extending annular flange 26 removablythreaded upon therear portion of the case. New dry cells may be readilyinstalled in the cavities 6 or removed when exhausted by unscrewing therear wall 23 from the case.2 and the screw I8'1from the plate l2.

Referring again to the contact plate l0 it will be noted that thesameisprovided at oneside witha high voltage lamp socket 36' and at itsopposite side with a low. voltage lamp socket 32 for the reception ofhigh and low voltage lamps.

34 and 38, respectively, either of which, when not in use may be enteredin a cavity 38, located axially in the forward portion of the body 4, asshown by Figs. 1 and 2. By installing the lamps in alined socketsneitherlamp need be removedfrom theplate l0 and will thereforebe availablefor-use when needed and either lamp is safe from breakage when placed inthe cavity 38. The plate I is removably clamped in the forward portionof the body 4 by an annulus threaded in the internally threaded forwardpart of the case 2 and provided at its forward portion with an annulargroove 42 to receive the threaded peripheral flange 44 of a reflector 46provided with an axial opening 48 through which either lamp 34 or 36 mayproject, ready for use. A lens 50 is clamped against the forward portionof the reflector by means of a ring 520. threaded in the flange 44 ofthe reflector. Light from either lamp 34 or 36, may be focused asdesired by rotating the flange 44 to advance or retract the reflector46, which latter is much greater circumferentially than the averageflashlight reflector and accordingly will cast a wider beam.

Contacts 52, 53, 54 and 55, equal in number to the dry cells, are spaceduniformly from each other and the axis of the body 4 and adapted to bemoved forward and backward in recesses 56a formed in the body. Saidcontacts are mounted upon the forward ends of conductors 56, 51, 58 and59, mounted for forward and backward movement in the body 4, saidconductors being provided respectively at their ends with contacts 60,BI, 62 and 63 rigidly attached to said conductors, and being heldagainst the respective springs by a like number of arms 62a, said armsbeing formed of an insulating material.

The arms 62a, are equally spaced on the inner wall of an annulus 60,Fig. 4. Said annulus 68 is threaded in a manually operable ring I0,rotatably mounted upon the body 4 between the bottom wall flange 26 anda ring 12 threaded upon the body. Contacts 60, 6|, 62 and 63, and thearms 62a, are slidable forward and backward in recesses 64 and theannulus 68 is free for forward and backward movement by the ring I0, inan annular slot I4 extending around the body 4 between the flange 26 andthe ring I2. The slot 14 communicates with the slots 64, the oppositesides of which prevent sidewise movement of the contacts 60, 6|, 62 and63, and the arms 62a and prevent the annulus 68 from rotating with thering 70. From the foregoing it will be understood that when the ring I0is rotated in one direction the contacts 52, 53, 54 an are advancedthrough the intermediary of the intervening parts against the adjacentcontacts on the plate I0, and close the circuit, which may be either ofthose disclosed by Figs. 10 and 11, and when the ring 70 is rotated in areverse direction the circuit will be opened. It is also to beunderstood that the springs I4, I4a, I4b and Mo are in constantengagement with the negative ends of the dry cells 8, 8a, 8b and 8c andthe contacts 60, 6|, 62 and 63, respectively, which latter are heldconstantly against the arms 9211, by the respective springs.

Having described the mechanical construction and operation of theflashlight, I will now proceed to describe the two circuits showndiagrammatically by Figs. 10 and 11, respectively. Referring first toFig. 10, in which the circuit is arranged in series for maximum outputof voltage, the circuit may be traced as follows: Beginning with drycell 8, current flows through contact 76, conductor 18, contact 80,contact 52, conductor 56, contact 60, spring I4, dry cell 8a, contact82, conductor 84, contact 86, contact 53, conductor 51, contact 6|,spring I4a, dry cell 8b, contact 88, conductor 90, contact 92, contact54, conductor 58, contact 62, spring [41), dry cell 80, contact 94,conductor 96, lamp 34, conductor 98, con- 4 tact I00, contact 55,conductor 59, contact 63, and spring I40.

Referring now to the diagrammatic view disclosed by Fig. 11, which showsthe batteries connected in series-parallel for delivering reducedvoltage, the circuit may be traced as follows: Current flows from drycells 8 and 8a through contacts I02 and I04, conductor I06, contacts I08and H2, contacts 53, and 54, conductors 51 and 58, contacts 6| and 62,springs Ma and Nb, dry cells 8?) and 80, contacts H0 and H4, conductorH6, lamp 36, conductor H8, contacts I20 and I22, contacts 55 and 52,conductors 59 and 56, contacts 63 and 60, springs I 40 and I4, and drycells 8 and 8a.

The contacts I6, 80, 82, 86, 88, 92, 94 and I00 and the conductors I06,H6, and H8, are fixed to one side of the plate I0, while the contactsI02, I94, I08, H0, H2, H4 and conductors I8, 84, 90, 96 and 98, arefixed to the opposite side of the plate, as shown by Figs. 5 and 6,respectively. The contacts on one side of the plate I0 are independentof those on the opposite side of the plate. Ihe conductors on one sideof the plate are also independent of those on the opposite side of theplate. The foregoing, of course, also applies to the lamps 34 and 36,respectively. Insulation is employed where necessary.

In order that the contact plate I0 may be quickly and accurately placedin the positions disclosed by Figs. 5 and 6, the plate I0 is providedwith a peripheral notch I25 adapted to receive lugs I21 and I29,respectively, formed on the upper inner part of the body portion 4 ofthe flashlight.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it is apparent that I have provided a flashlight embodying thefeatures of advantage above pointed out, and while I have shown but oneform of the invention, I reserve the right to such other forms andmodifications thereof as properly fall within the scope of the inventionas claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is:

1. In a flashlight, a case, a plurality of battery cells contained insaid case, a set of contacts carried by said case for engaging thenegative poles of said cells, a member carried reversibly by said caseadjacent the positive poles of said cells and said negative polecontacts, a set of contacts carried on each side of said reversiblemember, either set of which is adapted, by reversing said member, to bepositioned to engage the positive poles of said cells and said negativepole contacts, conductors carried by said member and connecting one ofsaid sets of contacts to connect said battery cells in a series circuit,a high voltage lamp in said series circuit, a second set of conductorscarried by said member and connecting the other of said sets of contactsto connect said cells in a series-parallel circuit, and a low voltagelamp connected in said series-parallel circuit.

2. In a flashlight, in combination, a case, elements forming an electriccircuit in the case comprising a plurality of dry cells spaced about theaxis of the case, a reversible member adjacent the dry cells, a set ofcontacts carried by each side of said member, the contacts on eitherside of the member being adapted to engage the positive poles of the drycells, a lamp carried by each side of the member, one of said lamp beingof higher voltage than the other, means adapted to connect the drycells, the contacts on one side of the member and the high voltage lampin series, and means including parts of the lastmentioned means adaptedto connect the dry cells, the other set or" contacts and the low volagelamp in series-parallel when the member is reversed.

3. A flashlight comprising a circular case having forward and rearwardends, a plurality of electric dry cells carried by and spaced about theaxis of said case, said dry cells being longitudinally coextensive andextending longitudinally of said case, a plurality of conductor carriedby said case for forward and rearward movement, a member carried by saidcase forwardly of said dry cells, a lamp carried by said member,elements carried by said member forming in combination with said drycells and conductors an electric circuit including said lamp, saidcircuit including contacts on said member against which said conductorsmay be moved forwardly to complete said circuit, resilient means carriedby said case and urging said conductors forwardly, an annulus carriedfor forward and rearward movement by said case but secured againstrotation thereon, arms carried by and extending inwardly from saidannulus, and engaging said conductors to move them rearwardly againstsaid resilient means as said annulus is moved rearwardly and a ringcarried for manual rotation on said case but secured againstlongitudinal movement thereon, said ring threadably engaging saidannulus whereby the latter will be moved forwardly or rearwardly as saidring, is rotated.

4. In a flashlight, a case, a plurality of battery cells carried by saidcase with their positive poles in a common plane, a member carriedmovably in said case adjacent the positive poles of said cells andadjustable to either of two positions,

6 first and second sets of contacts carried said member, said first setcontacting said positive cell poles when said member is in its firstposition and said second set contacting said positive poles when saidmember is in its second position, third and fourth sets of contactscarried by said member, means carried by said case whereby said thirdset is connected to the negative poles of cells when said member is inits first position, and whereby said fourth set is connected to ainnegative poles when said member is in its econd position, conductorscarried by said memand joining said first and third sets of contoconnect cells in series, a high voltcarried by said member and connectedsaid series circuit, a second set of conductors carred by said memberand joining said second and fourth sets of contacts to connect saidcells in series-parallel and a low voltage lamp carried 2:) by saidmember in said series-parallel circuit.

JAMES L. CUNNINGHANL REFERENCES CITED The following references are ofrecord in the 25 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,892,075 Ncffs Dec. 27, 19321,932,102 Eaton Oct. 24, 1933 2,074,536 Brown Mar. 23, 1937 2,123,435Peill et al July 12, 1938 2,145,631 Pixley Jan. 31, 1939 2,224,742Muldoon Dec. 10, 1940 35 2,245,793 Kurlander June 1'7, 1941 2,408,643Hoy Oct. 1, 1946

